Date: June 14, 2014

Result: Colombia 3-0 Greece

Goalscorers:

Colombia:

  • Pablo Armero 5
  • Teofilo Gutierrez 58
  • James Rodriguez 93

Venue: Castelao, Fortaleza

Attendance: 57,174

Match overview:

Colombia, with 7, kept the most clean sheets amongst South American nations in qualifying. Greece, with 8, kept the most clean sheets amongst European nations in qualifying. Georgios Karagounis is the only survivor from Greece’s Euro 2004 triumph. Colombia reserve goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón is the oldest player at this World Cup. The 42-year old was also in the squad for USA ’94!

Key moment: Greece striker Theofanis Gekas endured a miserable, unrewarding afternoon in Belo Horizonte. The low point of a poor all-round display was a shocking miss from just five yards out midway through he second half. Moments later Gekas was put out of his misery and substituted.

Man of the match: Juan Guillermo Cuadrado. Set up two goals and was a constant menace down the right flank. The match was bookended by two mazy runs from the winger, both of which led to goals.

Stats: Goal attempts

  • Colombia 13
  • Greece 12

On target

  • Colombia 7
  • Greece 6

Corners

  • Colombia 4
  • Greece 4

Matter of fact: Greece continued their sorry record of never having kept a clean sheet at a World Cup match.

Talking point: It’s early days but Greece look like they will struggle to get out of what is a competitive, but hardly intimidating group. Colombia, meanwhile, appear to have answered the question on everyone’s lips: how will they score goals without the injured Radamel Facao.

Line-ups:

Colombia:

  • 01 Ospina
  • 18 Zuñiga
  • 07 Armero (Arias – 74′ )
  • 06 Sánchez
  • 02 Zapata
  • 03 Yepes
  • 11 Cuadrado
  • 08 Aguilar (Mejía – 69′ )
  • 09 Gutiérrez (Martinez – 76′ )
  • 10 Rodríguez
  • 14 Ibarbo

Greece:

  • 01 Karnezis
  • 15 Torosidis
  • 20 Holebas
  • 08 Kone (Karagounis – 78′ )
  • 04 Manolas
  • 19 Papastathopoulos
  • 14 Salpingidis (Fetfatzidis – 57′ )
  • 21 Katsouranis
  • 17 Gekas (Mitroglou – 64′ )
  • 02 Maniatis
  • 07 Samaras

Goals:

  • Colombia:
    • Pablo Armero 5
    • Teofilo Gutierrez 58
    • James Rodriguez 93

Yellow cards:

Colombia:

  • Sanchez 26

Greece:

  • Papastat 52, Salpin 55

Referee: Mark Geiger (United States).